I kept forgetting to update, but chapter 8 is here! It's one of my shorter chapters, bit I promise I will make my next chapters longer. Thanks Dream Plane for your continued support! I really enjoy getting reviews, so enjoy and please review! It makes my day!

I tossed and turned all night, having dreams of roses and mysterious red objects. Of course it was a nod to my name, but it felt like something more, a deeper meaning. It was creepy to think that someone was stalking me, but it had to be an insider. Someone who was in the castle, and knew their way around. Of course, what Ebony said about Aura made her a suspect, but what would be her goal? She barely knew me, and she was so kind when Alesia was not. Alesia did not take kindly to me being at the ball, but Kace was such a nice person. This was all too confusing.

I sat up in bed to see light creeping through the windows and groaned loudly. If only I could go back to bed, but once I was awake, I was awake for the day. The bed squeaked loudly as I stood up and I looked down on it. It didn't matter how friendly I was with Ebony, I never got the best things. My room was smaller than hers, but it was bigger than my mother's old room in the servants' quarters, so I would take what I could get. At Least I had a window that I could see the gardens through. I walked over to the window and pushed back the drapes, only to find an empty garden. Perfect for me to read a book.

After I got ready for the day I walked out to the gardens and walked around for a bit. My favorite part of the whole castle was the gardens, especially the gazebo in the middle. There were vines that climbed to the very top, and those vines were covered in flowers. Each one was different, as if the entire garden twisted together in this one place, creating a massive centerpiece. Once I made it through the maze that the royal family called a garden, I found myself at the gazebo and sat on the iron bench. It was painted white, but was chipped from years of use. Some would think it creepy, but I thought of it more as serene.

I opened my book, which was about kingdom economics, and turned to the first page. Right as I went to open the book, a piece of parchment slipped out and flew to the floor. I peered over the side of the bench to find an envelope that was stamped with a red, wax rose. Rolling my eyes, I bent over to pick it up, and smoothed my hand over the rough paper. As luck would have it, the name on the envelope was mine, written in fancy cursive letters. It was thick, as if it had more than one letter inside of it, or perhaps one very big letter. I opened it slowly, careful not to make any unnecessary tears. When I looked inside I found two letters and pulled the first one out. It read:

My dear Rosemary

They are coming for me as I write this, and they are not to be trusted. You must do exactly as I say. Come back to the kingdom with your brother, but come on foot. They will tell you to leave but you must stay, and do not believe them. Power is not the same as control, and if you make the wrong decision you will lose everything. I believe in you, the fate of the kingdom lies in your hands. Be careful, and I know that your mother raised you with wit. Use that to your advantage.

Whatever you do, do not stop and smell the roses.

The letter ended there. I had no idea who it was from, and I had no idea who would write something as vague as this. I looked toward the other folded up piece of parchment. It said "open first", no wonder the letter didn't make any sense. I carefully opened the letter and found that it was written in different handwriting, as if the author was in a hurry.

Rose,

We must leave at dusk tonight. I will explain everything in due time, but first I need you to meet me at the entrance to the castle at noon. Do not tell anyone, not even the princess, We don't know who is to be trusted.

Sincerely,

Prince Charles.

Ebony's prince Charles? Well I guess he wasn't Ebony's per say, but why was he sending me notes? I decided to meet him at the entrance to find out what was going on, but it was necessary to tell Ebony. Of course she could be trusted, she was my best friend. I got up, stuffing the contents of the envelope back into their original spot. I was past the point of being careful. I had to know what was going on and if these creeps wouldn't tell me soon, I would find out for myself. Walking down the steps of the gazebo, I made my way down to the castle entrance near my room. I walked to my quarters at a brisk pace but immediately stopped when I heard silent sobs coming from the room across from mine. Ebony's room.

I slowly walked up to the door and pushed it open to find Ebony sitting on a sofa in her room with tears rolling down her eyes. I ran over to her.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

"It's my parents." She said softly.

"What about them?"

"Their carriage ran off the road last night on their way to the foreign delegation. They're dead." She said between sobs. I stood there gaping at her.

"Does that mean?" I started.

"I'm queen now." She whispered, not even trying to mask the fear in her voice.